AFRICA

Kano Emirate Tussle: Citizens’ Gavel Backs Sanctions For Errant Lawyers, Judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should pursue, to logical conclusion, the investigation into conflicting court orders on the Kano Emirate throne tussle between the reinstated Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi, and Ado Bayero,.deposed by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, a human rights organization, Citizens’ Gavel, advised on Thursday.

While commending the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola for summoning Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court over the matter, the CSO raised fears that no one will respect the judiciary if conducts which expose the entire legal profession to disrepute and opprobrium are not corrected through sanctions.

The Team Lead, Citizens’ Gavel, Nelson Olanipekun in a statement, wondered why the Courts as well as some lawyers have allowed themselves to be used as tools by “combatants to the detriment of not just the legal profession but the peace and security of residents of Kano State.”

He said: “Citizens Gavel recalls that barely a week after the National Judicial Council (NJC) had sanctioned Honourable Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Honourable Justice G.B Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court and Honourable Justice Amina Shehu of the Yobe State High Court for various malfeasances, Justice A.M Liman of the Federal High Court who sits in Kano State, and who clearly doesn’t have jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters had on May 23rd, 2024, strangely issued an ex parte order which inter alia, suspended the implementation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 – a law that was validly passed by the Kano State House of Assembly and- pursuant to which Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero was deposed as Emir of Kano State and Muhammadu Sanusi II was installed in his stead.

“We also recalled that barely four days after the ex parte order of Justice Liman was issued, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court also issued her own ex parte order dated 27th May, 2024 which not only conflicted with the ex parte order of Justice Liman but restrained Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero from parading himself as Emir of Kano State while also directing security agencies to take over his residence.

“Justice S.A Amobeda of the Federal High Court, apparently in solidarity with Justice Liman who appears to be away from the country, strangely issued his own ex parte which in effect affirmed the Order earlier issued by Justice Liman and on the other hand, conflict with the Order issued by Justice Amina.

“Unsurprisingly, these conflicting court orders emanating from the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court as well as the actual tussle between Bayero and Sanusi for the soul of Kano Emirate have sparked protest in Kano State leading the State Governor on Wednesday, 29th of May, 2024, to ban all public demonstrations and to direct security forces to arrest any individual involved in same.

“Citizens Gavel learnt that the Chief Justice of Nigeria has summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court as well as the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court in connection with the conflicting court orders issued by the two Courts. On the other hand, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has undertaken, in a statement, to investigate the conducts of the lawyers who were involved in the procurement of the conflicting court orders with a view to commencing disciplinary action against them before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

“While we sincerely hope that this issue will not be swept under the carpet but treated with the utmost dispatch it deserves, we must remind both the NJC and the NBA that as disciplinary bodies, they shoulder the responsibility of shaping public perception of the judiciary and by extension, the legal profession and that no one will respect much less have recourse to the judiciary if conducts which expose the entire legal profession to disrepute and opprobrium are not corrected through sanctions.”

Friday Olokor, Abuja